A summer of change is afoot at Old Trafford - and whoever the new manager is will face the unique experience of working with their predecessor.
With Ralf Rangnick due to to move upstairs into a two-year consultancy role after his interim period concludes in the summer, the German will still be keen to make a big contribution to the club moving forward, regardless of who steps into the hot-seat.
He has already been vocal about the type of players United should be looking to attract in the transfer window as the new manager prepares for an overhaul of the current squad. And while the interview process for the next boss is still far from its conclusion, it seems Ajax manager Erik ten Hag has already been taking Rangnick's advice on board as he lines up his first two signings should he be appointed, as exclusively revealed by Mirror Football.
Ten Hag is the leading candidate to land the top job at Old Trafford, with Paris Saint-Germain boss Mauricio Pochettino also very much in the frame. Both would expect significant finances to invest in the playing squad should they jump ship and join United this summer.
Discussing who United should look to acquire in the next transfer window, Rangnick told Sky Sports : "It's obvious that something needs to be changed, something needs to be rebuilt in the summer. The team could do with some more highly-talented, hungry players who really want to develop their own careers.
"I don't think it should be that much about signing big names. I wouldn't mind big names! But for me it's important about being competitive, hungry, seeing a move to a club - and I have always believed this - not only as a big contract, a big-name club, but the next logical step in his career.
"If this happens, then you have a completely different level of motivation, aspiration, inspiration to play for whatever club that is. That should be the major target for the summer transfer window."
Rangnick pointed at Liverpool as an example, citing the arrivals of Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane and Virgil van Dijk as signings who took the next step in their career, having moved from Roma and Southampton respectively. It seems that Ten Hag is on the same page as Rangnick, as he wants to bring two of his key men from Ajax along with him to Manchester.
Who should United look to sign this summer? Have your say in the comments section.
As Mirror Football exclusively revealed, Ten Hag has identified defender Jurrien Timber and winger Antony as two players who could take the step up to playing for United in the near future. Both players have become key figures in the Ajax dressing room, and at 20 and 22 respectively, still have plenty of scope for development.
The chances of either player heading to Old Trafford would very much rely on Ten Hag getting the gig, though, but United have been boosted in their search for a new manager after learning that the Dutchman could be signed from Ajax for a relatively modest compensation fee of just €2m (£1.68m) due to a get-out clause in his contract.
